Economic Overview - U.S. pre-market futures are at peak highs, with the Dow up 185 points, S&P 500 up 35 points, and Nasdaq up 120 points, indicating a healthy market environment [1] - The small-cap Russell index is up 20 points, showing recovery from a previous selloff, with Q2 earnings season exceeding expectations across various industries [2] Productivity and Labor Costs - U.S. Productivity in Q2 increased by 2.4%, surpassing the expected 1.9%, marking a significant recovery from the previous quarter's -1.8% [3] - Unit Labor Costs rose by 1.6%, slightly above the estimated 1.3%, and down from a revised 6.9% in Q1, indicating improved economic conditions [4] Employment Data - Initial Jobless Claims rose to 226K, 5K higher than estimated, but still below the near-term high of 250K reported in early June [5] - Continuing Jobless Claims reached 1.974 million, the highest since November 2021, but still below the psychologically significant 2 million mark [6] Company Earnings Reports - Eli Lilly reported Q2 earnings of $6.31 per share, exceeding the $5.61 estimate, with revenues of $15.56 billion, up 5.5% [7] - Despite strong earnings, Eli Lilly's shares fell 7% due to disappointing performance of its new obesity pill, which had a 12% weight loss rate [8] - Warner Bros. Discovery reported earnings of $0.63 per share, significantly better than the expected -$0.16, with revenues of $9.81 billion [9] - Ralph Lauren's fiscal Q1 earnings were $3.77 per share, beating the $3.48 estimate, with revenues of $1.7 billion, up 14% year over year [10] Upcoming Economic Data - Wholesale Inventories for June and Consumer Credit data will be released later today, following a previous Consumer Credit increase of $5.1 billion [11]

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2][3] - The company focuses on medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive's news team delivers insights across various sectors including biotech, pharma, mining, natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging technologies [3] Group 2 - Proactive is committed to adopting technology to enhance workflows and content production [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Group 1: Earnings Performance - Warner Bros. Discovery reported quarterly earnings of $0.63 per share, significantly beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.16 per share, and improving from a loss of $4.07 per share a year ago [1] - The earnings surprise was +493.75%, contrasting with a previous quarter where the company had a loss of $0.18 per share against an expected loss of $0.12, resulting in a surprise of -50% [2] - Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times [2] Group 2: Revenue Performance - The company posted revenues of $9.81 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.15%, but showed an increase from year-ago revenues of $9.71 billion [3] - Warner Bros. Discovery has not been able to beat consensus revenue estimates over the last four quarters [3] Group 3: Stock Performance and Outlook - Warner Bros. Discovery shares have increased by approximately 21% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 7.9% [4] - The future performance of the stock will depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the company's earnings outlook [4][5] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $0.17 on revenues of $9.25 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is -$0.04 on revenues of $37.91 billion [8] Group 4: Industry Context - The Broadcast Radio and Television industry, to which Warner Bros. Discovery belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 39% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges ahead [9] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact Warner Bros. Discovery's stock performance [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Warner Bros. Discovery's Studios business is projected to deliver at least $2.4 billion in adjusted EBITDA in 2025, with a goal of reaching $3 billion [9] - The streaming business is on track to exceed $1.3 billion in adjusted EBITDA in 2025 and aims for over 150 million subscribers by 2026 [9][10] - The company has reduced its net leverage from over five times to 3.3 times, the lowest since the merger [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Motion Pictures segment achieved a milestone by opening five consecutive films with over $45 million in domestic box office [7] - HBO Max added more than 3.4 million subscribers in Q2, continuing its global expansion [9] - Warner Bros. TV led all studios in Emmy nominations, with HBO setting a record of 142 nominations [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on enhancing its content licensing strategies, with an annual library revenue target of $5 billion from Warner Bros. TV and film [12] - The Networks content sales reached $580 million in 2024, significantly above the normalized run rate of approximately $200 million per quarter [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The strategic objectives include being the premier home for creative talent, producing high-quality film and television, and distributing content through a profitable streaming service [6] - The company is investing in its creative and operational capabilities across various segments, including HBO, Warner Bros. television, and DC studios [9] - Plans to split into two independent publicly traded companies in 2026 are underway, with current momentum expected to position both for long-term success [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's creative success and growth trajectory, particularly in the Motion Pictures and streaming segments [9] - The focus remains on delivering high-quality content and enhancing the consumer experience, with expectations for significant growth in the coming years [54][90] Other Important Information - The company is reimagining its U.S. networks portfolio as a content engine around strong unscripted brands, moving away from traditional linear networks [19] - There is a strong emphasis on bundling strategies to reduce churn and enhance customer lifetime value [83] Q&A Session Summary Question: Content licensing strategies for Warner Brothers and Discovery - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining asset value and growth over short-term financial gains, opting to sell less content into the streaming market to drive growth for HBO Max [13][14] Question: Future franchises and growth opportunities - The company is focusing on leveraging its extensive IP portfolio, including major franchises like Harry Potter and Superman, to drive revenue across various channels [26][30] Question: HBO Max U.S. distribution deal restructuring - The restructuring of the legacy deal is expected to impact revenue growth positively after 2026, with new international launches planned [46][49] Question: Addressing marketers' desire for cross-platform advertising - The company is maintaining synergy opportunities in ad sales and has seen strong pricing across all categories, particularly in sports [75] Question: Reducing churn and converting unauthorized account shares - Management is in the early stages of addressing account sharing and is implementing strategies to reduce churn through improved content scheduling and bundling [81][84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Warner Bros. Discovery reported strong momentum in its financial performance, with the Studios business on track to deliver at least $2.4 billion in adjusted EBITDA in 2025, aiming for a $3 billion goal [8] - The streaming business is projected to exceed $1.3 billion in adjusted EBITDA in 2025, with a target of over 150 million subscribers by 2026 [8][9] - The company has significantly reduced its net leverage from over five times to 3.3 times, the lowest since the merger [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Motion Pictures segment achieved a milestone by opening five consecutive films with over $45 million in domestic box office [7] - HBO Max added more than 3.4 million subscribers in Q2, continuing its global expansion [8] - Warner Bros. TV led all studios in Emmy nominations, with HBO setting a new record of 142 nominations [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on optimizing its global networks, including CNN and TNT Sports, to drive innovation in news, sports, and unscripted programming [9] - The U.S. networks portfolio is being reimagined as a content engine around strong unscripted brands, with content licensing expected to play a significant role in monetization [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The strategic objectives include being the premier home for creative talent, operating as the largest producer of film and television, and distributing content through a profitable streaming service [6] - The company is investing in its creative and operational capabilities across various segments, including HBO, Warner Bros. television, and DC studios [8] - Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split into two independent publicly traded companies in 2026, positioning both for long-term success [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's creative success and the positive trends in subscriber growth and content quality [8] - The company is focused on enhancing the consumer experience and addressing the challenges in the streaming landscape, including churn reduction and account sharing [88][89] Other Important Information - The company is exploring opportunities in theme parks and live events related to its franchises, with a focus on maximizing the value of its intellectual property [40][44] - The restructuring of the HBO Max U.S. distribution deal is expected to impact revenue growth positively after 2026 [46][49] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about your content licensing strategies? - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong internal content library while balancing external licensing opportunities to drive growth [13][15] Question: What future franchises do you see as having a halo effect on the organization? - The company is focusing on leveraging its well-known IP, such as Harry Potter and DC characters, to create stability and growth across various revenue streams [27][30] Question: Can you comment on the restructuring of the HBO Max U.S. distribution deal? - The legacy deal adjustments are expected to have a meaningful impact on revenue growth, with a reacceleration anticipated after 2026 [46][49] Question: How are you addressing churn and unauthorized account sharing? - Management indicated that they are in the early stages of addressing account sharing and are implementing strategies to reduce churn through improved content scheduling and bundling [84][88] Question: How does the engagement look for ad-supported subscribers versus direct sign-ups? - The company is focusing on activation and engagement strategies for wholesale subscribers, with positive trends observed in recent partnerships [66][70]

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) aims to release 12-14 films annually across its key labels, including Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, New Line Cinema, and Warner Bros. Animation, following a successful second quarter at the box office [1][4] Group 1: Financial Performance - WBD's Motion Picture Group has generated over $3 billion in global box office revenue year-to-date, with more than $2 billion coming from four films released in the second quarter [3] - The company anticipates $2.4 billion in total Studios profit for 2025, aiming for a $3 billion target [4] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - The recent success is attributed to a deliberate rebuilding and transformation strategy executed over the last three years since Discovery acquired Warner Media, focusing on a more analytical green lighting process and systematic marketing strategies [5][6] - The film studio has reorganized its marketing and distribution teams into a globally integrated model to enhance coordination across territories, which has led to some layoffs [6] Group 3: Upcoming Releases and Management - Upcoming releases include 1-2 Warner Bros. Pictures tentpoles, 1-2 DC Studios films, 3-4 New Line Cinema releases, and 1-2 WB Animation titles, along with a select number of moderately budgeted original films [2] - The DC Studios film "Superman" opened to $220 million globally, marking the strongest opening for DC Studios since 2022, with James Gunn managing a more cohesive and strategic approach to the DC universe [7]

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery's earnings were positively impacted by successful film releases in Q2, generating $2 billion in global box office revenue [1] - The studios segment reported a 55% increase in total revenue to $3.8 billion, with theatrical revenue up 38% [2] - The company anticipates continued momentum, projecting at least $2.4 billion in adjusted EBITDA for the studios segment for the full year [3] Group 1: Financial Performance - The studios segment's adjusted EBITDA rose to $863 million, up from $210 million year-over-year [2] - Overall, WBD's total revenue increased by 1% to $9.81 billion in Q2, with adjusted EBITDA rising 9% to $1.95 billion [9] Group 2: Film Releases and Future Projections - The success of "Superman," which generated $220 million globally in its opening weekend, is expected to boost Q3 performance [4] - The company aims for two or three major tentpole releases annually to ensure stability, leveraging its franchise library [7] Group 3: Strategic Changes and Leadership - CEO David Zaslav emphasized the need to revitalize the studios following the merger in 2022, which faced challenges from the pandemic and labor strikes [5] - Key appointments, including James Gunn and Peter Safran for DC Comics, were made to strengthen the superhero film division [6] Group 4: Organizational Restructuring - The company plans to split into two units next year: Warner Bros. for studios and streaming, and Discovery Global for TV networks and sports [9] - Staff cuts of 10% were announced for Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group as part of ongoing restructuring efforts [8]

Warner Bros. Discovery Reports Second-Quarter 2025 Results NM - Not Meaningful (*) A non-GAAP financial measure; see the section starting on page 13 titled Definitions & Sources for additional details. Q2 2025 Highlights · Total revenues were $9.8 billion, up modestly from the prior year quarter. Q2 2025 Earnings Press Release | August 7, 2025 1 · Distribution revenues were relatively unchanged, as growth in global streaming subscribers was offset by continued domestic linear pay TV subscriber declines. · A ...

Financial Results - Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 [1] - A conference call to discuss the results was scheduled for today at 8:00 a.m. ET [2] Conference Call Details - A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call until August 14, 2025 [3] - The replay can be accessed via phone or through the audio webcast available on the company's website for twelve months [3] Company Overview - Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company with a diverse portfolio of branded content across various platforms including television, film, streaming, and gaming [4] - The company operates iconic brands such as Discovery Channel, HBO Max, CNN, and many others [4]

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results on August 7, with expected revenues of $9.83 billion, reflecting a 1.20% increase year-over-year, and a narrowed loss estimate of 14 cents per share, indicating a 96.56% increase from the previous year [1][8]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates that WBD has surpassed earnings expectations in one of the last four quarters but missed three times, resulting in a negative average surprise of 659.92% [2]. - The anticipated revenue of $9.83 billion for Q2 2025 is supported by strong performance in the streaming segment, which saw a subscriber growth of 5.3 million and an 8% increase in streaming revenues in Q1 2025 [3][8]. Streaming Segment - The streaming segment is expected to continue its momentum, bolstered by successful releases such as "The Last of Us" and "And Just Like That," along with international expansion and growth in ad-supported offerings [3]. - The Studios segment is projected to rebound due to a major licensing agreement with the streaming division and early success from new content like the Minecraft Movie and Sinners, with the release of Superman further enhancing performance [4]. Linear Networks and Advertising - The Linear Networks segment is facing challenges due to ongoing declines in traditional TV viewership and a tough advertising market, likely leading to a drop in network revenues for the upcoming quarter [5]. - Advertising performance is expected to decline by 2% year-over-year, influenced by the absence of major sports events like the Final Four, despite some offset from the Stanley Cup Finals [6]. Earnings Expectations - According to the Zacks model, WBD currently has an Earnings ESP of -47.89% and a Zacks Rank of 3, indicating a lower likelihood of an earnings beat [7].